54 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



Mr. HoEVEN. Judging from a historical standpoint and going back 

 over the years, I find that in the year 1939 we had stocks at the end 

 of the year of about 688,000,000 bushels. In 1940 there were 

 645,000,000 bushels. In 1948 we had the largest corn crop in history 

 and indications at the present time are that the corn crop in 1949 will 

 about equal that or perhaps be somewhat less than in 1948. I say 

 that by reason of the fact that the Iowa farmers will likely plant 1.6 

 percent less acres of corn this year. 



Using our historical background through the years from 1938, dur- 

 ing which period of time you have never used marketing quotas on 

 corn, have you reason to believe that we will have to resort to that 

 in 1950? 



Secretary Brannan. Mr. Hoeven, let mo first say that as far as 

 the application of any of these types of control or restrictive programs 

 are concerned, I for one — and I think this is true of people in the 

 Department of Agriculture generally — have no desire or no taste for 

 applying those kind of programs. We want no authorities nor the 

 exercising of any jurisdiction just for the purpose of exercising author- 

 ity or jurisdiction. We will not go any further than is necessary. 



I would just like to say that while I think in general I could prob- 

 ably agree with what you are saying now, I would not like to be so 

 firm in that position that if some situation arose, or a combination of 

 situations arose that might requu'e the referendum, that is requu'e 

 inviting the opinion of farmers through a referendum, we would not 

 be precluded from so doing by something that you and I might say 

 here this morning. 



Mr. Hoeven. Then I understand you would be reluctant to issue 

 the proclamation calling for an election on marketing quotas? 



Secretary Brannan. Yes; certainly. 



Mr. Hoeven. And you would not issue that proclamation unless it 

 was absolutely necessary. 



Secretary Brannan. We certainly would not. We recognize that 

 there will be a lot of administrative difficulties in the administration 

 of these and the other types of acreage limitation and marketing quota 

 programs. I assure you the Department of Agriculture is not going 

 out looking for that kind of trouble or work. 



Mr. Hoeven. Assuming that the crop situation in the coming year 

 is about the same as it is this year, in which marketing quotas do not 

 apply, do you see any reason why they should apply next 5^ear? Just 

 assume the same state of facts. I do not think it will vary very much. 



Secretary Brannan. The same state of facts we know will not pre- 

 vail next year which prevailed this year. This year we went into the 

 year with one of the lowest carry-overs in all our history, 125,000,000 

 bushels. Next year we will go in with the highest, or one of the high- 

 est, carry-overs in our history, which makes next year a very much 

 different situation. 



Mr. Hoeven. You already have made your estimate for next year, 

 have you not? 



Secretary Brannan. That is right. 



Mr. Hoeven. Taking that into consideration, do you think we are 

 going to have a very different picture next year? 



Secretary Brannan. The picture in October of next year, which 

 would be the point at which you would begin thinking about 1951, 

 which is the year in which you are primarily interested now, Mr. 



